Circuit-controlling apparatus



April 14, 1925. 1,533,154

5.5. WILLIAMS, 4R 7 CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 18. 1920IIIIIIHII ./nven for: damue/ 15. M'l/Mm Jr.

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

STATES SAMUEL iiwmnmias, .13., or BROOKLYN,

PATENT OFFICE.

NEW YORK, A SSIGNOR 'I'O WESTERN ELEC- "rnrc conran mconrona'rnn, or newYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or new CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

- Application filed December 18, 1920. Serial No. 431,608.

To, all whom it may concern:

Be itknown thatI, SAMUEL B. WILLIAMS, Jr., a, citizen of; the UnitedStates, residing at Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings, State 6 of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCircuit-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description.

This-invention relates to circuit control- 10 ling apparatus," and moreparticularly, to'

circuitcontrolling apparatus for governing the selection-of-circuits inautomatic and semiautomatic telephone s stems.

The, objectDf-the invention is to provide an improved-zeircuitcontrolling apparatus in the form of a counting relay circuit ar-'rangement, the improvement consisting in thereduction in the number ofrelays requiredto select the-circuitcorresponding to the-number ofimpulses transmitted by an impulse sender 1 i To attain thejobj'ect ofthe invention, a se-' ries of counting relays, less in number than thenumber of circuits capable of selection thereby, are so arranged as tobe successively energized a plurality of times. Cooperating with thecounting relays .are a plurality of transfer relays which operate atcertain stages of the selection to control in conjunction with thecounting relays, the selection of the circuit corresponding to thenumber of impulses transmitted by the impulse sender.

Thev acompanying drawing diagrammat- .Z ically illustrates oneembodiment of the invention. A calling station is shown with meansindicated to connect it to a circuit in whichthe invention resides, andmeans are indicated for extending the circuit to, and establishing aconnection with, one of a pluralityof succeeding. circuits. For a fullexplanation of the manner in whch the indi cated connecting means isoperated reference may be had to the Patent No. 1,487,- 996, granted toS. B. Williams March 25,

.1924. Thesucceeding circuit to the one dis-' closed in this intentionmay be as shown in the application of Edward E. Hinrichsen, Serial No.345,714, filed December 18, 1919, Patent No. 1,463,815, issued August 7,1923. These references are cited for facilitating an understanding ofthis invention, but it is not tobe understood that the invention islimited to systems as disclosed in these references.

lVhen the subscriber at substation A removes his receiver from its hook,he causes a line relay (not shown) to become energized in the usualmanner, which relay, in turn, causes the energization of the rela s 28and 29. Relay 28 connects the line rom substation A to a circuit and therelay 29 connects the circuit 25 to a trunk circuit in which the variousfunctions of a selector switch are performed. The trunk circuit will bereferred to by its details, since it occupies practically the whole ofthe drawing. Upon the operation of the relays 28 and 29, the line ofsubstation A is connected to the relay 10 which becomes ener 'zedthrough its two windings and the su station loop. Relay 10 in attractingits armature completes an obvious circuit for the energization of relay11, which is preferably of the slow-to-release type, so as to maintainits armatures attracted during the sending of a series of impulses torelay 10. Relay 11in attracting its outer left-hand armature places aground on conductor 21, which ground, in addition to locking the relays28 and 29, operates cut-off relay 27. Relay 27 in operating serves thewell-known pu of disconnecting the line relay (not shown) from thecalling line.

The connection is now ready for the sending of impulses from the callingstation A. \Ve will assume that a circuit having the number 4 isdesired. The subscriber at station A now actuates the sender S to sendfour impulses. Each time an impulse is transmitted there will be aninterruption of the circuit including relay 10, so that relay 10retracts its armature momentarily four times.

At the first retraction of the armature of relay 10, relays 12 and 13operate over a path extending from ground, armature and back contact ofrelay 10, right-hand armature and front contact of relay 11 and thencein parallel, one path extending through the right-hand winding of relay12 and resistance 14 to grounded battery, and the other path extendingthrough the winding of reto-release relay 11. Relay 13 is preferably ofthe slow-to-release type so as to maintain its armature attracted duringthe sending of a series of impulses. Relay 13, in operating, extends theconductor 50, through its contacts 41 and the outer right-hand armatureand back contact of relay 38, and over conductor 21 to ground at theleft-hand contacts of relay 11. At the first retractlon of the armatureof relay 10, a circuit is prepared for countingrelay 30 over a pathextending from ground, through the outer left-hand armature and frontcontact of relay 11, conductor 21, back contact and outer right-handarmature of relay 38, 0on tacts 41 of relay 13, conductor 50, contactsI; of counting relay 31, winding of counting relays 30, coritacts a ofcounting relays 30, 31, 32 and 33, front contact and r1ght-hand armatureof relay 12 and thence in parallel one path extending through theright-hand winding of relay 12 and resistance 14 to grounded battery,and the other path extending through the winding of relay 13 to groundedbattery. Relay 30 does not opcrate as long as the normal contacts ofrelay 10 are closed due to said relay 30 being short-circuited by groundat the normal contacts of relay 10. lVhen relay 10 operates at the endof the lirst interruption in the line circuit, the short circuit forrelay 30 is re moved and it operates over the path previously traced.Relay. 30 and all other counting relays are so adjusted that the innerright hand contacts make \before contacts a and I) break. Relay 30 inoperating locks up over a path extending fron'u round, outer left-handarmature and front co tact of relay 11, conductor 21, back contact andouter right-hand armature of relay 38, contacts41 of relay 13, conductor50, contacts I) of counting relay 31, winding, front contact and innerright-hand armature of counting relay 30 and resistance 14 to groundedbattery. Relay 30 in operating also connects through its contact 0 theimpulse conductor 51 to the next counting relay, namely counting relay31.

The windings of relay 12 are so related that the reduction of thecurrent flowing through the righthand Winding occurring during theoperation of the counting relay 30, causes the release of said relay 12.The relay 12 is thus released in order to prevent the improper operationof the succeeding counting relay 31 before the next impulse is received.

At the second retraction of the armature of relay 10 in responseto thesecond impulse transmitted by the sender S, relay 12 again operates inthe circuit traced through its right-hand winding and a circuit isprepared for counting relay 31 over a path extending from ground, outerleft-hand armature and front contact of relay 11, conductor 21, backcontact and outer righthand armature of, why 38,; contacts .41 of relay13, conductor" 50, contacts b of relay 32, winding of counting re lay31, contacts 0 of ,relay-. .,.30, contacts a of relays 31, 32 and 33,conductor 51, front contact and right-hand armature of relay 12 andthence inv parallel, one path extending throughthe right-hand winding ofrelay 12 and resistance 14 to grounded battery and the other pathextending through the winding of slow-to-release *relay 13 to I groundedbattery. Relay 31 does not operate as long as the normal contacts ofrelay 10 are closed due to relay 31 being shOrt-circuited by groundconnected to the normal contacts of relay 10. 'When-relay lO'oper-atesat the end of the second interruption in the line circuit, the shortcircuit forrelay 31 is removed and said relay-"31' operates over thepath previously traced." Relay- 31in operating locks up through itsfront contact and inner right hand armature under con trolof relay 32and'in "opening its contacts 6 opens the holding circuit for countingrelay 30, thereby causing the-release of said relay 30. As abovedescribed in connection with the sending of" the first-impulse, therelay 12 is released during the operation of the second counting relay31fl'to prevent'the imprope operation of thexsucceeding count ing relay32. It may be notedat this point that the relay 12 releases inthis'nianner during the operation of each succeeding count ing relay toprevent the improper operation ofsaidrelays.

At the third retraction of tlie' armature of relay 10 in response to thethird impulse transmitted by the sender S, relay'12'operates and acircuit is prepared for count-v ing relay 32 over a path extending. fromground, outer left-handarmature and front contact of relay 11,eonducton'-2l,-back con-' tact and outer right-hand armature of relay38, contacts 11 of relay 13,"conduct0r 50, contacts I) of counting relay33, winding ofrounting relay 32, contacts 0 of counting relay 31,contacts a of counting relays 32 and 33, conductor 51, front'contactandright-hand armature of relay 12 and thence in parallel, one pathextending through the right-hand winding of relay 12' and resistance 14to grounded battery, and the other path extending through thewinding ofrelay 13 to grounded battery. Relay 32 does not operate as long as'thenormal contacts of relay 10 are closed-due to said relay 32 beingshort-circuited at the normal con- -tacts of relay' 10. VVhen relay' 10attracts extending from ground, outer left-hand armature and frontcontact of relay 11, con- Hductor 21, back contact and outer righthandarmature of relay 38, contacts 41 of relay 13, conductor 50, contactsbof counting relay 30, winding of counting relay 33, contacts 0 ofcounting relay 32, contacts a of counting relay 33, conductor 51, frontcontact and right-hand armature of relay 12 and thence in parallel, onepath extend- --ing through the right-hand windin lay 12 and resistance14 to groun ed battery, and the other path extending through the windingof relay 13 to grounded battery. Relay 33 in operating locks up over apath'including ground on conductor 50, contacts I; of relay 30, winding,front contact and inner right-hand armature of re: lay 33 and resistance14 to grounded battery. Relay 33, in operating, opens at its contacts];the holding circuit for counting relay 32, whereupon said relay 32releases. Relay 33in operating also completes a circuit for transferrelay 35 over a path extending from grounded battery, winding of relay35,'back contact and outer right-hand armature of transfer relay 34,front coirtact and outer left-hand armature of relay 33, conductor 50,contacts 41 of relay 13,

outer right-hand armature and back contact of relay 38 and front contactand outer left-hand armature of relay 11 to ground. Relay 33 also causesthe release of relay 12.

After the fourth impulse has been transmitted by the impulse sender S,the circuit for relay 10 may remain closed, whereupon slow-to-releaserelay 13 will deener-' gize due to the circuit therefor being opened atthe normal contacts of relay 10. The armature of relay 13 is so adjustedthat contacts 40 make before contacts 41 break when relay 13 deenergizesso that relays 60 and 61 will be energized over a path extending fromground, outer left-hand armature and front contact of relay 11,conductor 21; back contact and outer right hand armat-ure of'r'elay 38,contacts 40 of relay 13, inner left-hand armature and front contacts ofcounting relay 33 and thence in parallel through the intermediate andouter right-hand contacts of transfer relays 35 and 37 and through thewindings of relays 60 and 61 to grounded battery. Re-

of E. E. Hinrichsen Patent No. 1,463.815

hereinbcfore mentioned. Relays 60 and 61 in operating may control theenergization of a line relay in the connector circuit, whereupon groundmay be connected to the conductor 62 in the well known manner therebycausing the energization of cut-ofi' relay 38. Relay 38 in operatingdisconnects the relay l0 fromthe calling line and era tends ground fromthe conductor 62 through its right-hand armature and front contact toconductor 21 for the purpose of maintaining cut-off relay 27 and reiays28 and 29 energized. Relay 10 releases when relay 38 operates, causingthereby the release of relay 11. Relay 11 in releasing opens theoriginal circuit for relays'27, 28 and 29. As soon as relay 13 has fullyretracted its ar- 7 its armature five times. Upon the fifth re traction,a circuit would have again been prepared for counting relay 30 over apath extending from ground, outer left-hand armature and front contactof relay 11, conductor'21, back contact and outer right-hand armature ofrelay 38, contacts 41 of relay 13, conductor 50, contacts 6 of countingrelay 31, winding of counting relay 30, contacts a of counting relay 33and thence over conductor 51 to grounded battery over the pathpreviously traced. Relay 30 does not operate as longas the normalcontacts of relay 10 are closed due to relay 30 being shortcircuited atthe normal contacts of rela 10.

\Vhen relay-10 operates at thefend o the looks up under control-of relay31 over the path previously traced.

At the end of the fifth interruption of the line circuit, and as soon ascounting relay 33 releases, the shunt around relay 34 is opened and saidrelay operates in the, following circuit: grounded battery, winding,front contact and inner right-hand armature of transfer relay 35,winding of transfer relay 34, conductor 50, contacts 41 of relay 13 toground on conductor 21. It will be noted that this circuit is preparedfor relay 34 when relay 35 operates at the end of the fourthinterruption in the line circuit, but relay 34 does not operate at thistime due to its being short-circuited by the direct path to ground onconductor 50, through the outer right-hand contacts of relay. 34 and Irelay 13 beingconnected to ground on conductor 21 when slow-to-releaserelay 13 releases.

If six impulses are transmitted by the sender S, relay 10 will retractits armatures six times. At the sixth retraction of the armature ofrelay 10, a circuit is prepared for counting relay 31 and when relay 10attracts its armature at the end of the sixth interruption in the linecircuit, counting relay 31 operates 'over the path previously tracedandin operating releases counting relay 30. Counting relay 31 in operatingin conjunction with transfer relays 34 and 36 pre ares a circuit for theselection of relays m the circuit No. 6, corresponding to relays and 61of circuit No. 4, which circuit will be closed if no further impulsesare sent due to relay 13 releasing when the line circuit remains closed.

If seven impulses are transmitted by the impulse sender S, relay 10 willretract its armature seven times and upon the seventh retraction of thearmature of relay 10, a circuit is prepared for counting relay 32.Counting relay 32 energizes as soon as relay '10 attracts its armatureat the end of the seventh interruption in the line circuit and, inoperating, locks up under the control of relay 33 and releases countingrelay 31. Relay 32 in operating in conjunction with transfer relays 35and 37 prepares a circuit for the operation of relays in circuit No. 7similar to relays 60 and 61 in circuit No. 4.

Relay 13 in releasing after the seven impulses have been transmitted bythe sender S, operates relays in circuit No. 7 corresponding to therelays 60 and 61 of circuit No. 4. i

If eight impulses are transmitted by the impulse sender S, relay 10 willretract its armature eight times and upon the eighth retraction thereofa circuit is prepared for counting relay 33 over the path previouslytraced. At the end of the eighth interruption in the line circuit,counting relay 33 operates, thereby releasing the counting relay 32 andcompleting a circuit for the diate and outer right-hand armaturesprepares a circuit in conjunction with counting relay 33 for theoperation of relays in cir cuit No. 8 similar to the relays 60 and 61 incircuit No. 4, which circuit is completed when relay 13 releases. Itwill be noted that when rela 37 operates a circuit for theenergization'of transfer relay 36 is prepared over apath extending fromgrounded battery, winding, front contact and inner ri hthand armature oftransfer relay 37, winding of-transfer rela 36 and conductor 50 andthence to groun on conductor 21. Relay 36 is short-circuited, however,due to a direct path to ground being present for relay 37 through theouter right-hand'contacts of relay 36, outer right-hand-alternatecontacts of relay 34 and the front contact and. outer- =Ieft.-handarmature of counting relafy 33.

I nine impulses are transmitted by the transmitter S, line relay 10 willretract its a'rmatures nine times. At the ninth retrac tion of thearmature of relay 10, a circuit is prepared for counting relay 30 over apath previously traced. As soon as relay 10 attracts its armature at theend of the ninth interruption of the line circuit, counting relay 30operates and locks up under control of counting relay 31: ,Relay 30 inoperating opens at its contacts I) the holding circuit for relay 33,whereupon said relay 33, re-

leases.' -Relay 33 in releasing removes the short-circuit for transferrelay 36, whereupon said relay 36 operates in series with relay 30,prepares a circuit for the energiza-- tion of relays in the circuit No.9 similar to relays 60 and 61 in'the circuit No. 4, which relays will beenergized as soon as relay 13 retracts its armature.

If ten impulses are transm tted by the sender S, relay 10 will retractits armatures ten times and the counting relay 31 'will again beenergized over the path previously traced. Counting relay 31 inoperating locks up under control of counting relay 32 and releasescounting relay 30. Relay 31 in operating in conjunction with transferrelays. 34 and 36 prepares a circuit for the energization of relays incircuit No. 10 similar to relays 60 and 61 in circuit No. 4, whichrelays are operated as soon as relay 13' releases.

To release an established connection the calling station A replaces thereceiver in the switchhook whereupon ground will be removed fromconductor 62 thereby causing the release of all relays locked to thisconductor.

- hat is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system, an impulse sender, a selector comprising aseries of counting relays, a number of selectable lines, means forsuccessively energizing the count ing relays a plurality of times, and aplurality of transfer relays cooperating with said counting relays forselecting the line corresponding to the number of impulses transmittedby said sender.

2. In a tele hone system, an impulse sender, a plura ity of linkcircuits, a series of counting relays less in number than the number ofsaid link circuits, means for energizing one of said relays in responseto each impulse transmitted by said sender, means for deenergizing oneof said counting relays each time a succeeding relay of the series isenergized, and a plurality of transfer relays cooperating with saidcounting relays for selecting link circuits correspond ing in number tothe number of impulses transmitted by said sender.

3. A circuit controlling device comprising a series of counting relays,a number of selectable link circuits controlled by said relays, animpulse circuit for energizing the relays in succession a plurality oftimes, means whereby each relay after having been operated isdeenergized in response to the impulse energizing the next relay of theseries and a plurality of transfer relays, certain of said transferrelays cooperating with an operated counting relay at certain stages ofthe selection for selecting the link circuit corresponding to the numberof impulses transmitted to said impulse circuit.

4. In a telephone system, an impulse sender, a selector comprising a setof counting relays, a number of selectable lines, means for successivelyenergizing the relays of said set a plurality of times, a plurality oftransfer relays, and means for actuating a different transfer relayafter each operation of the counting relay set for selecting said lines.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day ofDecember, A. D., '1920.

SAMUEL B. WILLIAMS, J R.

